Sunset Motel

Specialties

An American CLASSICAL motel located on Route 66 on the East end of Moriarty. Owned and operated by the same family who built the motel in the 50’s and 60’s. You’ll enjoy the nostalgia of the original furnishings as well as the more modern conveniences, such as coffee makers, microwaves, refrigerators and FREE WiFi.

History

Established in 1955.

The Sunset Motel is located approximately 35 miles east of Albuquerque on Old Route 66, in the small town of Moriarty, NM. The 18 unit motel was built by the family from 1954 until 1969. The transient tourist business had been a mainstay of the local economy for years and Bill was the second generation of Pogues to own a motel in Moriarty. His mother had owned and operated the Yucca Motor Court about a mile west on Route 66.

The plans for the building were drawn on a brown paper bag and Bill, Elaine and their two boys did the majority of the construction. Bill was determined the building would be ‘done right and last forever’.

Bill passed away in 1972 and Elaine continued to run the motel on her own then sold the business to her younger son, Mike, in 1975 who owns the motel today. Elaine went on to become a two-​term mayor of Moriarty, working to build and promote the town she loved.

Meet the Business Owner

Mike Pogue M.

Business Owner

Born and raised in an apartment adjacent to the motel. Graduated from the Univ of NM in the mid 70’s and moved to NYC to join Price Waterhouse and Co. Purchased the motel from the family in the 70’s. Mike and his wife, Debbie, have returned to New Mexico to operate the Sunset Motel.